Malacothrix coulteri
Malacothrix incana
Snake's head desert-dandelion, Snake's-head
dune malacothrix, dunedelion
1–6, ascending or erect, simple or branched proximally and distally, glaucous or glabrous.
1, branched proximally and distally, usually tomentose, sometimes glabrous.
proximal linear to obovate, sometimes pinnately lobed, not fleshy, ultimate margins entire or dentate, faces glabrous;
distal reduced (ovate to lanceolate, rarely pinnately lobed, bases clasping).
proximal obovate to narrowly spatulate, sometimes pinnately lobed (lobes 1–2+ pairs, subequal, apices obtuse), sometimes ± fleshy, margins usually obtuse-lobed, sometimes entire;
distal not notably reduced (similar to others).
hemispheric, 10–22+ × 6–22+ mm.
10–14 × 4–8+ mm.
densely bristly.
not bristly.
85–257;
corollas usually pale yellow, sometimes white, 8–12 mm;
outer ligules exserted 2–5 mm.
47–99;
corollas medium yellow, 11–20 mm;
outer ligules exserted 5–10 mm.
(25–)40–60+ in 4–6+ series, (midstripes usually reddish or purple) orbiculate to ovate, oblong, lance-oblong, or linear, unequal, hyaline margins 1–2.5 mm wide, faces glabrous.
16–30 in 2–3 series, (red-tinged) lanceolate or oblong to linear, hyaline margins 0.05–0.1 mm wide, faces glabrous.
0.
of 5–16+, ovate to lanceolate bractlets, hyaline margins 0.05–0.2 mm.
± prismatic, 1.6–3.2 mm, ribs extending beyond apices, 5 more prominent than others;
persistent pappi of 20–25+, blunt teeth plus 2–6 bristles.
usually cylindro-fusiform, sometimes weakly prismatic, 1.5–2.2 mm, ribs extending to apices, ± equal;
persistent pappi 0.
70–100% 3-porate.
70–100% 3-porate.
= 14.
= 14.
Malacothrix coulteri
Malacothrix incana
Variety cognata, indistinguishable in floral characters from var. coulteri and differing in cauline leaves parted almost to midribs, occurs at some mainland sites in southern California and has been collected on the Channel Islands. In California, Malacothrix coulteri grows in the San Joaquin Valley, central western areas, western Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, and Mojave Desert. In Arizona, it grows in the Sonoran Desert in the Santa Rita and Tucson mountains, and similar places.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Malacothrix incana, a dune endemic, grows currently on the coastal mainland in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, and on San Miguel, San Nicolas, Santa Cruz, and Santa Rosa islands. Its nomenclatural type specimen was collected at San Diego, probably from the Silver Strand dune areas on Coronado Island.
Populations of a glabrous form, var. succulenta, occur in Santa Barbara County (e.g., Casmalia Beach) and San Luis Obispo County (e.g., west of Oso Flaco Lake). Glabrous forms and tomentose forms grow together on San Miguel and San Nicolas islands.
Extensive hybridization between Malacothrix incana and M. foliosa subsp. polycephala occurs on San Nicolas Island where dunes have extended into areas of normal soil, particularly along the western and southwestern portions of the island.
Hybridization between Malacothrix incana and M. saxatilis var. implicata occurs on San Miguel Island on east-facing slopes above Cuyler Harbor.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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